Untitled [reclining figure with face down] 1955 - 1967

Here, Richard Diebenkorn used what looks like charcoal to create a drawing, most likely from life, of a reclining figure, face down. It’s all about the touch of the charcoal to the paper, a balance between control and letting go. The lines are searching, tentative, they build up the form, but they don’t quite close, leaving gaps for your eye to fill in. See how the weight of the body is suggested by the darker, thicker lines? There's something vulnerable about the figure, face hidden, surrendering to gravity. The whole thing has a casual, intimate feel, like a glimpse into a private moment. This reminds me of some of Matisse's figure drawings, where he's also using line to find the essence of the form. But with Diebenkorn, there's a rawness, an immediacy, that feels very American, like a conversation between the artist, the model, and the paper. It’s like the drawing is never quite finished, always in process, which is what makes it so alive.